Kit for attaching a portable conveyor to an all terrain vehicle or the like

Abstract

An apparatus in kit form for attachment of a conventional portable conveyor to a vehicle for transport comprises a rear hitch member attached to an axle mount on the axle of the conveyor adjacent one wheel and adapted at an opposite end thereof for releasable attachment to a vehicle's rear hitch. A front vehicle mount is attached to a front portion of the vehicle and a conveyor mount is attached to a support location between the intake end of the conveyor body and the axle. A front hitch member has an upper end releasably attached to the conveyor mount, and has a lower end releasably attachable to the front vehicle mount, so as to bear against the support location as the conveyor body moves down, with the result that the intake end moves up. The apparatus is adjustable such that the conveyor and vehicle may be substantially aligned for travel.

I claim:  
     
       1. For use with a conventional portable conveyor comprising a conveyor body supported on an elevating frame, the frame operable to move the conveyor body up and down, the conveyor body and frame supported on an axle with wheels such that an intake end of the conveyor body normally rests on the ground as the conveyor body pivots up and down about the intake end thereof, an apparatus in kit form for attachment of the conveyor to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: 
       an axle mount adapted for attachment to the axle of the conveyor adjacent a wheel thereof;  
       a rear hitch member having an axle end releasably and pivotally attachable to the axle mount and adapted at an opposite tow end thereof for releasable attachment to a vehicle hitch at a rear end of the vehicle;  
       a front vehicle mount adapted for attachment to a front portion of the vehicle;  
       a conveyor mount adapted for attachment to a support location between the intake end of the conveyor body and the axle, the support location being selected such that as the conveyor body moves down, the support location moves down;  
       a front hitch member having an upper end releasably attachable to the conveyor mount, and having a lower end releasably attachable to the front vehicle mount, so as to bear against the support location as the conveyor body moves down, with the result that the intake end moves up; and  
       wherein the apparatus is adjustable such that the conveyor and vehicle may be substantially aligned for travel.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the front hitch member further comprises a jack operable to increase a vertical distance between the upper and lower ends of the front hitch member. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the front hitch member is laterally extendable such that the conveyor and vehicle may be aligned for travel. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the rear hitch member is laterally adjustable such that the conveyor and vehicle may be aligned for travel. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the rear hitch member is extendable. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the front vehicle mount comprises a ball and wherein the lower end of the front hitch member comprises a socket. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the ball is mounted to a plate, and wherein the plate supports the front hitch member during transport. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle hitch comprises a ball and wherein the tow end of the rear hitch member comprises a socket. 
     
     
       9. A portable conveyor attachable to a vehicle for transport thereof, the conveyor comprising: 
       a conveyor body supported on an elevating frame, the frame operable to move the conveyor body up and down;  
       the conveyor body and frame supported on an axle and wheels such that an intake end of the conveyor body normally rests on the ground as the conveyor body pivots up and down about the intake end thereof;  
       a rear hitch member having an axle end releasably and pivotally attachable to the axle adjacent a wheel thereof and adapted at an opposite tow end thereof for releasable attachment to a vehicle hitch at a rear end of the vehicle;  
       a front vehicle mount adapted for attachment to a front portion of the vehicle;  
       a front hitch member having an upper end releasably attached to the conveyor at a support location between the intake end of the conveyor body and the axle, the support location being selected such that as the conveyor body moves down, the support location moves down, and having a lower end releasably attachable to the front vehicle mount, so as to bear against the support location as the conveyor body moves down, with the result that the intake end moves up; and  
       wherein the conveyor and vehicle are substantially aligned for travel.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the front hitch member further comprises a jack operable to increase a vertical distance between the upper and lower ends of the front hitch member. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the front hitch member is laterally extendable such that the conveyor and vehicle may be aligned for travel. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the rear hitch member is laterally adjustable such that the conveyor and vehicle may be aligned for travel. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the rear hitch member is extendable. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the front vehicle mount comprises a ball and wherein the lower end of the front hitch member comprises a socket. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the ball is mounted to a plate, and wherein the plate supports the front hitch member during transport. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the vehicle hitch comprises a ball and wherein the tow end of the rear hitch member comprises a socket.